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'We have to tackle this human trafficking'

Human trafficking is an issue that cannot be ignored in West Yorkshire, according to the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

Mark Burns-Williamson yesterday called for the creation of a national working group among Police and Crime Commissioners to tackle trafficking head on.

He made the announcement during a county-wide conference in Leeds, designed to develop an understanding of the scale and signs of the crime.

Over a hundred delegates met at the John Charles Centre for Sport with speakers from West Yorkshire Police, Hope for Justice and the Salvation Army.

Mr Burns-Williamson said: "Human trafficking is an issue which exists in West Yorkshire and that fact cannot be ignored.

"The potential scale of the issue has been revealed in recent ground breaking police and partnership operations.”

Keighley's former police chief, Allan Doherty, director of operations at Hope for Justice, spoke at the event and said: “Hope for Justice is calling for a regional anti-trafficking network to be established in Yorkshire and the Humber.”